(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam seafood exports to China in recent years has reported a strong growth. China is becoming more and more important market for Vietnam seafood. Seafood exports of Vietnam to China can reached to US$800 – 900 million per year in case of boosting fish export through the official way and less depending on boder trade activities, Truong Dinh Hoe, General Secretary of VASEP said.
In the past, Vietnam seafood exports to China was modest because Vietnam exporters were concerned about risks in payment. Besides, they had no interest in international seafood shows held in China.
In 4-5 recent years, Vietnam enterprises started to sell shrimp to China. The market has strengthened to import Vietnam seafood. It shows high demand for seafood to meet hiking domestic consumption.
Vietnam’s shrimp and pangasius exports in 2013 to China saw a big increase. Through September this year, seafood exports to China hit US$390 million, up 32 percent year-on-year. China climbed to the fourth position in importing Vietnam seafood.
In QIII/2013, seafood shipment to China gained US$159 million, up 40 percent year-on-year. In which shrimp sales were US$109million.
It is expected that Vietnam’s seafood sales to China in 2013 may reach at least US$500 million. There are many rooms for Vietnam exporters to the market in the next years. With annual shrimp imports of US$150-200 million from Vietnam, China ranked the second after Japan in importing Vietnam’s black tiger shrimp.
China was the fifth largest importer of Vietnam whiteleg shrimp. This year, they are importing whiteleg shrimp instead of importing only black tiger shrimp as they used to.
In October this year, Vietnam pangasius exports touched US$180 million, in which exports to China occupied 5 percent. If this trend remains, Vietnam may export up to thousands of tons of pangasius to the market.
However, Vietnam seafood exporters sell their products to China mainly through border trade. By this way, they face instability, risks in payment and find it hard to supply to China’s large importers.
In 2013, VASEP actively learns about Chinese market through international seafood shows held in China and next year, the association plans to make a survey on the China demand for shrimp and pangasius
VASEP will monitor trade activities at border and contact representatives of China’s provinces to know their seafood demand. Vietnam exporters will cooperate with large importers and wholesalers in Chinese market to penetrate deeply into the market.